Chapter 1316: Let Me Ask Dumbledore First
Chapter 1316: Let Me Ask Dumbledore First
In a secluded area veiled by various protective enchantments somewhere in the Scottish Highlands of the United Kingdom, Harry was intently waving his wand, practicing the Cruciatus Curse he had learned from Mad-Eye Moody. He focused on igniting the simple fireplace in front of him and attempting to control the black flames, preventing them from spreading uncontrollably.
To Harry's left, Hermione and Ron tightly gripped their wands, ready to use the Disrupting Charm that Moody had taught them recently to extinguish the fire if needed.
Unfortunately, all three of them failed in their attempts.
Shortly after Harry finished casting the Cruciatus Curse, the black magical fire transformed into surging flames, showing signs of losing control and spreading beyond the fireplace.
As the black inferno extended beyond its confines, Ron and Hermione simultaneously waved their wands, employing the Disrupting Charm that Moody had taught them to try and suppress the unruly hellfire.
However, they only managed to slightly repress the black flames and failed to halt its spread.
In the end, it was the combined efforts of the several Order of the Phoenix members surrounding them that completely contained the raging black fire and extinguished it shortly after.
"Another failure," Harry couldn't help but feel a little discouraged. This was already his third day of practicing the Cruciatus Curse.
Despite their efforts, the advanced Dark magic proved far more challenging than they had imagined, and they hadn't made much progress.
Once summoned, the Cruciatus Curse was incredibly difficult to control. It quickly spiraled out of control, spreading and consuming everything in its path.
Even Hermione and Ron's practice with the Disrupting Charm seemed to have little effect on the hellfire, as if the dispelling charm was a sham.
"I still can't fathom why you insist on learning such dangerous Dark magic," Mad-Eye sheathed his wand and gazed at the fireplace charred by the hellfire, unable to hide his displeasure.
Even he was wary of the sinister inferno, let alone dared to use it casually. There were times when Moody questioned his own sanity for teaching Harry such a curse.
A few days ago, Harry, Hermione, and Ron had returned to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix and expressed their desire to learn the Cruciatus Curse. Ever since then, they had been practicing this perilous Dark magic together during their spare time.
However, summoning the hellfire was not the challenging part. The true difficulty lay in controlling it. Moreover, as the hellfire spread, the task of controlling it became increasingly daunting. Albert's feat of burning down Malfoy Manor with the Cruciatus Curse without letting it spread to the surroundings had astonished many.
"Don't be discouraged, Harry. You're doing splendidly. Many Dark wizards struggle to control the hellfire as well," Sirius patted Harry's shoulder reassuringly, "At least you've managed to cast it. With enough practice, I'm sure you'll be able to master the control aspect as well."
"Shut it, Sirius. Do you know how many foolish Dark wizards have been burned to a crisp by their own hellfire throughout history?"
Moody glared at Sirius, signaling for him to be quiet, before turning to Harry, "If we're not around, don't attempt to practice the Cruciatus Curse alone. Once it spirals out of control, the consequences could be catastrophic."
Finishing his piece, Moody turned to Hermione and Ron, "And you two, when using the Disrupting Charm, you must concentrate. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time suppressing and extinguishing the hellfire."
"It is, after all, a very advanced form of Dark magic," Lupin added reasonably. It was unrealistic to expect Harry to master it in a short time, especially considering Harry's lack of affinity for Dark magic.
Even they would struggle to master the Cruciatus Curse in a short span of time.
"Do you think Albert has some secret to using the Cruciatus Curse? He burned down Malfoy Manor with ease," Ron mumbled, recalling the conversation they had after dinner a few nights ago.
If Albert was willing to teach them, perhaps their progress with the curse would be faster.
"We don't have any evidence that Albert was responsible for the hellfire at Malfoy Manor," Hermione retorted impatiently.
"Who else but him could have pulled off such a feat? You suspect Voldemort?" Ron countered, "Don't be ridiculous, Hermione. Sometimes, evidence isn't necessary when there are only a handful of wizards in the entire wizarding world capable of such a thing."
"Evidence is paramount," Hermione insisted, clearly unhappy with Ron's stance. She found his willingness to pin the blame on Albert without concrete proof utterly irrational, just because he possessed the capability to do so.
Absurd.
Ron shrugged, choosing not to argue further with Hermione to avoid a potential quarrel that could sour their relationship.
"Harry, are you learning the Cruciatus Curse to use against Voldemort?" Kingsley interjected, finding the idea of using the Cruciatus Curse against Voldemort unreliable.
The other members of the Order of the Phoenix perked up their ears, curious about Harry's response.
"Of course not. I'm not foolish enough to think that relying on the Cruciatus Curse will be enough to defeat Voldemort," Harry replied, his experiences with both Albert and Dumbledore having instilled a sense of self-awareness in him.
"Dark magic is Voldemort's forte. Hoping to defeat him in an area he excels in is nothing but a pipe dream."
"Then why..." Kingsley trailed off, unsure if he should continue.
"If I had my way, I wouldn't want to use such a dangerous curse either. But we need it as a backup plan to ensure the success of our upcoming endeavors," Harry explained, his gaze determined.
"
"It seems like you have something big planned next." Kingsley remarked, his eyes fixed on Harry.
"Sorry, but we need to keep this confidential for now," Harry replied.
"Confidential?"
Sirius exchanged glances with the others, having heard that word countless times.
"We need to be fully prepared before we act. We only get one shot at this, and failure is not an option."
Harry wore a helpless expression, aware of the group's curiosity about their upcoming endeavor, especially after he started learning the Cruciatus Curse. Their lack of trust in him was evident.
Harry wanted to assure them that he was no longer a child and that their worries were unfounded and counterproductive.
However, facing their concerned gazes, he found himself unable to voice his thoughts.
"Are you planning to break into Gringotts?"
Sirius recalled Harry asking Bill to keep an eye out for goblins, and the only connection to goblins would be Gringotts.
After all, the trio had recently visited Hogwarts, and while the purpose of their trip was unknown, everyone suspected they were searching for something.
"Maybe, if necessary," Harry said with a helpless smile. "Speculation won't help us now. If our plan goes well, we won't need much time to complete the task Dumbledore entrusted to us."
"Sorry, Harry. I... I'm just too worried," Sirius said, noticing Harry's gaze.
"I know, but... before we finish our mission, it's best to keep our actions from the knowledge of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Otherwise, all of Dumbledore's efforts before his death will be in vain," Harry explained.
"It's all for defeating You-Know-Who," he added, turning away.
Harry then attempted to shift the topic, "I think you guys should focus more on training others in Dark magic defense. We will inevitably face off against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers, and we can't fight this battle alone. If everyone's proficiency in Dark magic defense can be improved, we can significantly reduce potential casualties."
The group exchanged glances, realizing they shouldn't press the issue further.
"Alright, let's head back. I'm sure you're all hungry!" Lupin interjected, trying to lighten the mood. He understood that Dumbledore had his reasons for not disclosing too many secrets to them. Their persistent probing wasn't just a sign of distrust towards Harry but also towards Dumbledore himself, even after his death.
...
"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked with concern as they returned to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, noticing Harry's unstable mood.
"I'm fine, Hermione," Harry shook his head.
"You don't look fine," Ron mumbled, handing Harry a piece of chocolate. "Eat something; it might make you feel better."
"No, thanks," Harry replied.
"They're just overly worried about you," Hermione tried to comfort him. "Especially now that you're trying to master the Cruciatus Curse, a dangerous piece of Dark magic. To be honest, I don't think I'll ever have the courage to use it in my lifetime."
"I know they mean well and are trustworthy, but don't you see? If any of them are captured, a simple Legilimency or Veritaserum will reveal everything, undoing all our hard work," Harry said.
"Harry..." Hermione looked anxious.
"That's why some things are better kept secret," Harry continued.
Don't they even realize that?
Harry believed that the members of the Order weren't that foolish, but Sirius and the others were still trying to figure out what the trio was up to.
Was it out of worry?
Perhaps, but it was more likely driven by curiosity and distrust.
After all, Dumbledore was gone, and the situation had changed.
It was similar to when they had used the Extendable Ears to eavesdrop on the Order's meetings at Grimmauld Place.
Everyone seemed to have endless curiosity, wanting to know what the trio was planning.
But now, the roles were reversed.
The repeated probing made Harry feel both amused and helpless.
He finally understood Albert's impatience back then and why he chose to form the Defense Association instead of joining the Order.
Yes, he found it bothersome.
Of course, Sirius had sent messages to Albert about this, but they were ignored.
"We can't afford to take risks, especially when we're so close to success," Harry said softly. "We can't afford to fail; you know that."
Harry's words were not only meant for Hermione and Ron but also for anyone else who might be eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Dinner's ready!"
Ginny's voice rang out as she knocked on the door.
“He's here.”
Ron's voice broke the silence as he gestured for Harry and Hermione to join him.
"Mrs. Weasley," Harry exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise as he recognized the familiar figure in the kitchen.
"Sorry for worrying you," Mrs. Weasley said, setting down a large pot of stewed potatoes and giving Harry a tight hug.
That night's dinner was exceptionally hearty and cheerful.
After the meal, Mrs. Weasley pulled Harry aside into the kitchen for a private conversation.
As expected, she wanted to talk about the Cruciatus Curse.
Mrs. Weasley hoped that Harry wouldn't continue to engage in such dangerous endeavors, especially since there was Albert, whose abilities far surpassed theirs, and there was no need for Harry, Hermione, and Ron to risk their lives.
Facing Mrs. Weasley's concerned gaze, Harry smiled bitterly, "Some things are inevitable. Even if I wanted to hide, I can't escape Lord Voldemort. He won't stop until I'm dead. So, I have to face him; I don't want to die a fugitive, that would be a disgrace."
"But Albert..." Mrs. Weasley began.
"Albert is doing his best to help, but this is a personal grudge between me and Voldemort... between me and Lord Voldemort," Harry said calmly, his tone causing Mrs. Weasley to feel uneasy. "There will be a final battle between us, and only one of us can survive. I won't, and I can't, avoid it. To do so would be to invite death."
Mrs. Weasley's mouth hung open slightly.
"I won't lose, believe me," Harry said.
To be honest, he had lost count of how many times he had said these words, but he knew he had to reassure them.
"I believe you," Mrs. Weasley said softly.
Taking advantage of Mrs. Weasley's momentary hold on Harry, Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley, and Sirius used the pretext of teaching Hermione and Ron the Disrupting Charm to lead them into the classroom and inquire about recent events.
They had no choice; Harry had been behaving quite differently lately.
He seemed to have become less concerned about many things, his mind wholly focused on Dumbledore's task.
"We promised to keep it confidential, and it's pointless to talk about it now anyway," Hermione said, attempting to shield her thoughts as she faced their questioning gazes. "Harry said a long time ago that the fewer people who know, the better."
"I don't know what you're planning, but Harry has started learning the Cruciatus Curse, a dangerous piece of Dark magic," Kingsley said hesitantly. "You should be aware of just how dangerous that magic is."
In fact, aside from Mad-Eye, none of the other Order members dared to attempt the Cruciatus Curse, and the fact that so many people were needed to help control it was a testament to its danger.
"I think you should focus more on training everyone in Dark magic defense," Hermione said, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Once Harry and Lord Voldemort face off, which is inevitable, we will be the ultimate victors. But Harry needs more help, unless you plan to take on Voldemort's followers alone." She looked around at the group, "Also, it's not that Harry doesn't want to tell you, but Dumbledore believes that sharing secrets with more people won't help solve the problem. Plus, you don't even know what your own task is."
The group fell silent, unable to refute Hermione's words, and eventually, they turned and left quietly.
"Do you think I was too harsh just now?" Hermione asked anxiously, turning to Ron.
"No," Harry interjected, appearing from nowhere. "Thank you, Hermione. I've been wanting to say that to them for a long time."
"You're welcome," Hermione said, a little flustered.
"Sometimes I feel like they're just like I was a few years ago," Harry said with a bitter smile. "They don't understand, and they're only trying to find out what Dumbledore's plan is, making a mess of things in the process." He shook his head, "No wonder Albert doesn't like dealing with them. They always think they're right."
"Don't blame them, Harry," Hermione said.
"I'm not blaming them," Harry said, shaking his head. "I'm just exhausted by their well-meaning concerns. Maybe I should have asked Dumbledore if he could share the secret with them."
"Harry!" Hermione and Ron exclaimed, their anxiety evident. As Harry's friends, they could sense the changes within him better than anyone.
It was a calm madness.
He had made up his mind to face Voldemort, even if it meant dying with him.
"Yes, Ginny?" Harry turned to the girl standing at the door.
"Mom made some potato pancakes. Do you want to come and have some?" Ginny asked, looking at Harry.
"Coming!" Ron said.
"Is there a portrait of Dumbledore here?" Harry asked, sitting down next to Ginny.
"Harry, why do you need a portrait of Dumbledore?" Sirius asked, puzzled.
"I know you're curious about what we've been up to lately," Harry said, taking a bite of the potato pancake smothered in ketchup. "So, I plan to ask Dumbledore's opinion first. If he agrees, I'll tell you."
The atmosphere suddenly turned deathly silent.
(End of Chapter)
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